Reducer for rings



c. J. KIEFER. REDUCER EOR- RINGS. APPLICATION FILED APR-24, I920.

1,357,200, Patented 001;. 26,1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESJ'. KIEFER, OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

REDUCER FOR RINGS.

Application filed April 24,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. Krernn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reducers for Rings, of which the following is. a specification, reference being had therein to the accompan ing drawing.

y invention relates to means for reducing the size of the hole, or opening, of rings to better fit the finger. In barbers shears, for example, the rings on the blades are usually too large for the thumb and finger to fit with sufficient closeness to afford avgood grip and enable the shears to be held comfortably with proper firmness for manipulation in hair cutting. By my invention, this condition is remedied, and by a device that is easily applied, inexpensive to make and sell, durable, neat in appearance, and sanitary. Of course, my invention is applicable to rings other than those forming the handles of barbers shears.

My invention consists in the ring reducer defined by or included within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ring reducer made in accordancewith my invention;

Fig. 2 is a like view of portion of a pair of barber shears with my reducer applied to the handle rings thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

My reducer consists of a bowed or arcuate strip 10, of some light, elastic material which will not be aiiected by moisture, such as celluloid, that is at least a half circle in length, which on its outer, convex side, has a circumferential groove or channel that provides on opposite edges, parallel lips or flanges 11, and on its inner or concave side, in cross section, is convexly rounded to aiford a comfortable surface for the finger Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 26,1920.

1920. Serial No. 376,357.

to contact with. At each extremity, the reducer, has a notch 12 that provides at each end a fork.

The reducer is applied by springing its grooved side over the inner side of the ring 13, this operation being facilitated by the notch 12 at the end, for thereby, the reducer, at one end is engaged with the ring,

. and swung thereon, as on a pivot, into the ring and interlocked therewith. By reason of its extent through at least substantially a half circle, accidental separation of the reducer from the rin is prevented, and when the ring is elliptica the reducer is provided from sliding endwise therein. By the ex pression half circle as used in the claims, I mean to include an are other than a true circle,-the arc of an ellipse, for example.

In the case of barber shears, my reducer enables the shears to be balanced to suit the ideas of the user in that regard.

The reducer may be made in a color or tint to match the ring to which it is applied, so as to render it inconspicuous.

I claim;

1. A ring reducer consisting of an arcuate strip of spring material that on its convex side has opposite ring-engaging projections.

2. A ring reducer cons1sting of an arcuate strip of spring material that on its convex side has opposite ring-engaging projections, between which is a circumferentially extending groove.

3. A ring reducer consisting of an arcuate strip of spring material that on its convex side has opposite ring-engaging projections, the ends of the strip being notched.

4. A ring reducer consisting of: an arcuate strip of spring material that on its convex side has opposite ring-engaging projections, said strip being substantially a half-circle in len th.

Iii testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

CHARLES J. KIEFER. 

